Blogue

2024 Highlights: Advancing Brain Research and Health for Canada

Reflecting on 2024, I’m proud to share the incredible progress CBRS has made alongside our many partners and supporters. Together, we’ve advanced shared priorities and strengthened the foundation for brain and mental health research in Canada.

I invite you to watch our 2024 highlights video and celebrate these accomplishments!


As we look ahead to 2025, CBRS will continue driving efforts to establish a national brain research initiative—a key step in securing Canada’s leadership in brain health and innovation. Let’s build on the momentum we’ve created together and keep brain and mental health at the forefront of the nation’s agenda.

Dr. Jennie Z. Young

CBRS Publishes Guest Editorial in Canadian Science Policy Magazine

The Canadian Brain Research Strategy (CBRS) is proud to announce the publication of a guest editorial in the latest issue of the Canadian Science Policy Magazine. Written by CBRS Executive Director Dr. Jennie Z. Young, the editorial highlights the urgent need for a Canadian Brain Research Initiative to address the growing challenges in brain and mental health research while leveraging Canada’s unique strengths.

Dr. Young writes:

“Canada has nurtured a century-long legacy of leadership in brain research, contributing significant progress in understanding how the brain works and tackling its many challenges. As we grapple with urgent brain health issues that affect millions of Canadians, the time has come for a coordinated national effort to scale these efforts for maximum impact.”

The editorial emphasizes how a federal investment in a Canadian Brain Research Initiative could unite expertise across neuroscience, clinical research, population health, social sciences, and Indigenous Knowledges. Such an initiative, Dr. Young argues, would drive transformative breakthroughs in brain research, benefiting millions of Canadians and reinforcing the country’s position as a global leader in this critical field.

Read the full editorial.

CBRS Featured in Hill Times Health

The Canadian Brain Research Strategy (CBRS) is proud to be featured in Hill Times Health, highlighting its leadership in developing an impactful Canadian Brain Research Initiative. The article, authored by Executive Editor Tessie Sanci, explores CBRS’s efforts to unite diverse stakeholders and advocates for sustained investment to address pressing challenges in brain and mental health research.

A collaborative strategy to transform brain health
The feature emphasizes CBRS’s unique role as a unifying force in Canada’s research ecosystem. CBRS Executive Director Dr. Jennie Z. Young describes the organization as an “objective third party,” facilitating collaboration among research leaders, policymakers, Indigenous Knowledges Holders, people with lived experience, industry, and research funders.

CBRS is advocating for federal funding to create a long-term, stable framework that fosters coordination and collaboration across the brain and mental health research ecosystem. Dr. Young highlights the critical need for strategic and sustained funding to ensure Canada maintains its position as a global leader in brain research while addressing the fact that 7.5 million Canadians live with brain conditions.

Making brain research a national priority
Dr. Young underscores the interconnected nature of brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and depression. She emphasizes that Canada’s fragmented funding system often leaves complex, interdisciplinary fields like brain research without adequate support. A unified national strategy, she argues, is essential to bridge these gaps and scale research for maximum impact.

Addressing Canada’s research funding challenges
The article also delves into systemic challenges facing Canada’s research community, including lagging federal investment compared to G7 peers. While Canada invests 1.7% of GDP in research and development, the U.S. and U.K. invest 3.5% and 2.9%, respectively. This underfunding, coupled with a lack of stable, long-term grants, contributes to a brain drain of talent, with many Canadian-trained researchers leaving the country for better opportunities abroad.

Dr. Young explains, “We subsidize our post-secondary education so much, and then we’re just losing [researchers].” She likens the current system to staffing a federal bureaucracy with entry-level employees, as researchers often leave just as they reach their full potential.

A vision for the future
CBRS’s advocacy reflects a shared commitment to building a healthier, more innovative Canada. As the Hill Times Health article notes, CBRS’s proposed initiative could not only address pressing health challenges but also position Canada as a global leader in brain research, ensuring that discoveries benefit generations to come.

Learn More
The full article, Federal dollars for brain research strategy is good for brain health and keeping researchers in Canada, says advocate, is available behind a paywall on Hill Times Health’s website. 

Canadian Science Policy Conference: Brain Health and Research Summit 2024

At Scaling Research for Impact: Local Insights to Global Solutions, a symposium and workshop at CSPC2024, the Canadian Brain Research Strategy (CBRS) is bringing together global experts and Canadian leaders to explore how research can be scaled to deliver broad health, social, and economic benefits. This event goes beyond brain and mental health to bring discussions and outcomes that will resonate across a wide range of research areas. By incorporating diverse perspectives and innovative approaches, CBRS is striving to empower attendees to uncover actionable insights and concrete strategies for advancing research, collaboration, and implementation in Canada.

Details

Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2024 

Location: CSPC2024 – The Westin Ottawa | 8:00am – 12pm EST 

Featured Speakers 

  • Senator Dr. Stan Kutcher, internationally renowned psychiatrist and leader in youth mental health research and policy. 
  • Dr. Tarun Dua, Head of the Brain Health Unit, World Health Organization. 
  • Jennifer French, Executive Director of Neurotech Network. 
  • Dr. Harris Eyre, Neuro-Policy Lead at Rice University’s Baker Institute and champion of the brain economy. 
  • Frédéric Destrebecq, Executive Director of the European Brain Council. 
  • Marie D’Iorio, President of Deep Tech Canada and trailblazer in nanotechnology and innovation ecosystems. 

Agenda 

Expert Panel Discussion 

Global thought leaders will share successful models for scaling research and explore strategies to translate knowledge into actionable societal impact. Topics include: 

  • Translating research into health, social, and economic benefits. 
  • Collaborating across disciplines and sectors for greater impact. 
  • Scaling local insights into global solutions. 

Workshop 

Participants from government, research institutions, health charities, and patient organizations will join dynamic discussions to collaboratively develop scalable solutions. Facilitated by national leaders, these sessions will foster practical, actionable strategies for scaling research impact.

Stay Connected 

Follow us on social media (LinkedIn and X) and check back here at Canadianbrain.ca for event highlights, resources, and key takeaways. 

Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates from CBRS. 

 

CBRS Hosts MP Maxime Blanchette-Joncas at the CERVO Brain Research Centre

The Canadian Brain Research Strategy (CBRS) was delighted to welcome MP Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Vice Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research (SRSR), to the CERVO Brain Research Centre in Quebec City. Our MP Research Centre Briefings are vital to our efforts to ensure brain and mental health research remains a priority on Canada’s policy agenda while building trust and shared understanding between policymakers and the research community.

During the visit, CBRS Executive Director Dr. Jennie Z. Young and CERVO Director Dr. Yves de Koninck emphasized the need for a strategic investment in brain research through a Canadian Brain Research Initiative. MP Blanchette-Joncas engaged with CERVO’s senior scientists, early-career researchers, graduate students, and technical staff—key contributors to the success of brain and mental health research. 

A highlight of the visit was an MRI brain scan demonstration, in which MP Blanchette-Joncas experienced the collaborative effort behind advanced neuroimaging. Contributors to the demonstration included Dr. Stephen Laureys, Dr. Roxanne Hoyer, PhD students Marie-Frédérique Bernier and Nicola Thibault, early-career researchers Dr. Philippe Albouy and Dr. Marie-Ève Paquet, and neuroimaging specialists Céline Leclerc and Daphnée Le Sage.

The visit also included a discussion with leaders from the Alliance en Santé Mentale du Québec (ASMQ), exploring the intersection between brain and mental health research. Dr. Marc Hébert, Dr. David Luck, and Dr. Katherine Picard provided valuable insights into the importance of addressing mental health challenges through research-driven solutions. 

This briefing reinforced the critical need for a coordinated national strategy to advance brain research and innovation. A Canadian Brain Research Initiative would enhance the ability of senior scientists to deliver groundbreaking discoveries, support essential personnel like research technicians, and ensure the transdisciplinary training needed to develop Canada’s future scientific leaders in brain and mental health. 

CBRS sincerely thanks MP Blanchette-Joncas for his support and interest in the transformative research at CERVO. We look forward to continued collaboration to strengthen Canada’s leadership in brain research and mental health innovation.

CBRS Highlights Capstone’s Role in Supporting Multidisciplinary Research in Parliamentary Testimony

On November 7, 2024, CBRS Executive Director, Dr. Jennie Z. Young was called to deliver testimony before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research (SRSR). The session focused on reshaping Canada’s research funding ecosystem through the proposed Capstone organization, announced in Budget 2024. 

The Capstone aims to bring more coordination, cohesion and agility to Canada’s federal research funding system, integrating the efforts of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Dr. Young emphasized that the Capstone could foster collaboration, bridge funding gaps, and enable  multidisciplinary research to tackle urgent and complex challenges, including brain and mental health research.  

“One of the capstone’s foundational aims is to support multidisciplinary research, which is essential as the scientific landscape evolves and challenges grow more complex. This focus is especially crucial in a frontier field like brain and mental health research, where its intersection with artificial intelligence puts it somewhere between CIHR and NSERC, and with the importance of psychology and other social sciences, it means that brain research often falls outside the mandates of our existing funding agencies. This challenge illustrates why we need an overarching organization like the Capstone to bridge gaps and ensure that particularly complex ones like brain research isn’t left without sufficient support,” said Dr. Young. 

She also highlighted the importance of long-term, stable, and flexible funding mechanisms to support innovative research and collaboration. She called on policymakers to seize the opportunity to strengthen Canada’s research infrastructure..   

“My understanding of the Capstone is that it’s really supposed to do something extra, on top [of the granting councils],” said Dr. Young during her testimony. “[In Canada,] we do have that unique superpower of being able to collaborate, and it requires infrastructure and resources to support it.” 

Dr. Young’s testimony reinforced the alignment between the CBRS’s vision and the Capstone’s goals: fostering collaboration, bridging funding gaps, and enhancing agility in Canada’s research funding system. With these priorities, CBRS is optimistic about the Capstone’s potential to amplify brain and mental health research and position Canada as a global leader in brain health innovation. 

Watch Dr. Young’s testimony

Read her opening remarks.

CBRS Publishes Editorial Series on Driving Canada’s Brain Health and Research Agenda

The Canadian Brain Research Strategy (CBRS) has partnered with the Canadian Science Policy Centre to publish a series of seven editorials exploring the transformative potential of brain and mental health research in Canada. Drawing on insights from national and international thought leaders, the series highlights strategic opportunities to address critical health challenges, drive innovation, and position Canada as a global leader in brain research and care.

The series offers policymakers, researchers, and those with an interest in science and health policy a roadmap for action and critical, informed perspectives on the future of brain and mental health research. It underscores the need for a coordinated national approach to unlock the potential of this vital field for the benefit of all Canadians.

Editorials:

  • Canada Must Act Now to Address the Brain Health Emergency
    Urgent action is needed to combat the health, social and economic impacts of neurological and mental health disorders facing all Canadians—from childhood to old age.
    Authors: Laura Dickson, Dr. James Reynolds, Dr. Allison B. Sekuler, Lindsay Borthwick

Read the full editorial series online at sciencepolicy.ca

CBRS Submission in Support of the National Strategy on Brain Injuries Act

The Canadian Brain Research Strategy (CBRS) submitted a policy brief in support of Bill C-277 to establish a National Strategy on Brain Injuries. Introduced by MP Alistair MacGregor and backed by Brain Injury Canada, this bill represents a crucial step toward a coordinated approach to addressing the significant and growing impact of brain injuries on Canadians.   

Brain injuries, whether traumatic (e.g., from accidents) or acquired (e.g., strokes), affect individuals at every stage of life and often intersect with broader social challenges like homelessness and intimate partner violence. Untreated brain injuries can have devastating consequences, underscoring the need for an integrated approach that addresses both medical and societal impacts.

The proposed National Strategy for Brain Injuries aims to: 

  • Increase awareness, education, and public understanding of brain injuries. 
  • Establish national guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of brain injuries.  
  • Promote research and improve data collection on the incidence and treatment of brain injuries.  

CBRS is committed to advancing a holistic Canadian Brain Research Initiative that integrates research and care across brain and mental health. Targeted strategies like the National Brain Injury Strategy not only address specific challenges but also strengthen Canada’s broader brain health ecosystem.

By supporting Bill C-277, CBRS is advocating for a future where Canadians living with brain injuries receive the care, support, and resources they need to thrive.

Read the Policy Brief here.  

Global Leaders Champion Brain Health at the United Nation’s Science Summit

The Canadian Brain Research Strategy (CBRS) proudly represented Canada at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) Science Summit’s Brain Days, held in New York City from September 19 to 20, 2024. CBRS joined global leaders to elevate brain health as a critical priority on the international policy agenda.

These meetings play a key role in shaping national science priorities by setting the agenda for governments worldwide. CBRS’s participation underscores Canada’s commitment to connecting its brain research and brain health initiatives with global efforts to address the significant and growing challenges posed by neurological conditions and mental illnesses.

Organized by the European Brain Council (EBC), Brain Capital Alliance, Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, and UNICEF, Brain Days brought together thought leaders from scientific, clinical, economic, and industry sectors. Participants highlighted the indispensable role of brain health in daily life and societal well-being and called for increased investment in brain research and care globally.

CBRS Executive Director Dr. Jennie Z. Young participated in discussions alongside these global leaders, emphasizing the need for Canada to engage internationally while advancing domestic initiatives like a Canadian Brain Research Initiative. Estimates suggest that more than 3.4 billion people worldwide live with a neurological condition. In Canada, the situation is no different: Neurological disorders, brain injuries, mental illnesses, and addictions impact more than 7.5 million people, or  1 in 5 Canadians.

The 2024 event built on the previous year’s Call to Action, which urged the UN and its Member States  to address disparities in brain health research, care, and infrastructure. Key recommendations included fostering National Brain Plans to enable comprehensive strategies that promote health and combat brain diseases across the lifespan. 

The consensus is clear: There is no sustainable development without health. No health without brain health. 

As global momentum grows, Canada must prioritize brain health. CBRS’s unified vision for brain and mental health research provides a roadmap to strengthen Canada’s contributions to international efforts, advance innovation, and address the urgent challenges posed by brain and mental health conditions.

Read more about Brain Days at the Science Summit of the 79th UNGA

CBRS Hosts MP Valerie Bradford and Brain Research Leaders at CABHI

The Canadian Brain Research Strategy (CBRS) was honoured to host MP Valerie Bradford, Chair of the Standing Committee on Science and Research (SRSR), at the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) in Toronto to discuss the future of  brain and mental health research in Canada.

The event featured presentations by leading researchers, including: 

  • Dr. Allison Sekuler, President and Chief Scientist, Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) 
  • Dr. Neil Vasdev, Director, Brain Health Imaging Centre Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) (representing Dr. Aristotle Voineskos, Vice President and Director of the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute
  • Dr. Don Mabbott, Program Head, Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) 
  • Dr. Doug Crawford, Director, Centre for Integrative and Applied Neuroscience, York University,
  • Dr. Jaideep Bains, Director, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network (UHN).
During the visit, CBRS convened institutional leaders, trainees, research staff, and people with lived experience, showcasing the wide range of roles, perspectives, and career paths within the brain and mental health research ecosystem.

Their insights underscored the need for strategic investment and policy support to unlock the full potential of Canadian brain research.

By fostering dialogue between policymakers and scientists, this briefing allowed MP Bradford to witness firsthand the transformative impact of brain research and its importance in addressing Canada’s aging population and mental health challenges. For researchers, it was an opportunity to engage directly with policymakers, helping bridge the gap between scientific innovation and public policy.

CBRS is grateful to MP Bradford for her leadership on the SRSR Committee and her commitment to championing science and innovation. MP research centre briefings like these are crucial for ensuring brain and mental health research remains a national priority, ultimately improving the lives of Canadians.

These visits are a cornerstone of our advocacy efforts, ensuring that brain and mental health research remains a priority in Canada’s policy agenda while fostering trust and shared insights between policymakers and the research community.